Refined metal



( Modem T. G. HALL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR SMELTING ORES AND PRODUCING REFINED METAL.

No. 247,341. Petented Sept. 20,1881..-

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

T. G. HALL.

PROGESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR SMELTING ORES AND PRODUCING REFINED METAL.

No. 247,341. Patented Sept. 20,1881.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THURSTON G. HALL, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GEORGE H. VAN VLEGK, OF SAME PLACE.

PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR SMELTING ORES AND PRODUCING REFINED METAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 247,341, dated September 20, 1881. Application filed April 19, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THURSTON G. HALL, of the city of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Process of and Apparatus for Smelting Ores and Producing ltefined Metal, of which the followingis a specification, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates more especially to the smelting of iron ores; and it has for its object to improve the quality of the metal produced and to reduce the consumption of fuel in prodncing the metal.

Myinvention consistsin the process of smelting ores and producing refined metal by injecting into the blast-furnace an air-blast and gasblast on the same level and a simple air-blast at a level below that of the combined air and gas blast; also, in the particular combination and arrangement of elements which constitute the apparatus in which my improved process may be practiced, as will be hereinafter fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of two sheets, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of myimproved apparatus. Fig. 2 is a top-plan view and partial section of the same. Fig.3 is an elevation of the lower portion of the furnace. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section in line 00 a, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one set of tuyeres.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A represents a blast-furnace, of any ordinary and well-known construction.

B represents the chimney or other gas-exit passage of a boiler or other ordinary furnace, O, in which coal or some other suitable fuel is 4.0 burned.

D represents a rotary fan or other suitable gas-blowing apparatus, having its eye or gasinlet connected by a pipe, d, with the chimney or gas-exit passage B, so as to draw the gas 5 passing from the furnace G into the chimney or exit-passage B to the fan D, which latter forces the gas into and through its dischargepipe 0. The end of the latter surrounds the furnace A above the hearth, as shown at E, and is provided with downwardly-inclining 5o pipes f 9, leading to the gas-tuyeres h 'i.

K represents a rotary fan or other suitable air-blowing apparatus, having its dischargepipe k arranged to surround the furnace near the annular end of the gas-trunk E, as shown 5 at L. This annular end of the air-pipe 7c is provided with downwardly-extending pipes l m, which conduct the air to tuyeres n 0. As shown in the drawings, each gas-tuyere is arranged between two air tuyeres, and these groups of tuyeres are arranged in two tiers or rows, one above the other, the upper row being formed by the gas-tuyeies h, receiving the gas through the inclined. pipes f, and the airtuyeres n, receiving the air through the inclined pipes l, while the lower row is formed by the gas-tuyeres t, which receive the gas through the inclined pipes g, and the airtuyeres 0, which receive the air through the inclined pipes m. The pipes g, through which the gas is conducted to the lower tuyeres, t, are each provided with a valve or slide, 19, by means of which the flow of gas to the tuyeresi can be regulated or entirely stopped at the desire of the operator.

q represents a steam-pipe surrounding the furnace, and provided with depending branch pipes 1", which open into the lower gas-supply pipes, g, and are provided with suitable stopcocks, t, whereby steam can mingle with the gas which is injected into the furnace through the lower gastuyeres when desired. The tuyeres are provided in their outer ends with panes u of mica, through which the interior of the furnace can be observed while in operation.'

The ore to be smelted is introduced into the furnace, together with the requisite quantity of fuel and flux, in any well-known or suitable manner. The gas, which is blown into the furo nace A by the fan D, consists principally of a mixture of nitrogen, carbonic oxide,and carbonic acid, accompanied by such other gases as will result from the partial combustion of the fuel fed into the furnace O. This mixture of 5 gases is injected into the furnace at or below the point at which the metal in the ore begins to fuse, and acts as a deoxidizing agent upon the ore and the metal derived therefrom.

In smelting certain kinds of ores it becomes desirable to employ a pure-air blast after the metal has been subjected to the combined gas and air blast. When this is desired the slides 12 of the lower tuyeres, i, are closed, rendering the latter inoperative while the adjacent airtuyeres, 0, remain in operation; Vhen the furnace is operated in this manner the entire gasblast is delivered into the furnace through the upper row of tuyeres, and the fused metal, after passing below the level of the upper row of tuyeres, and before it collects in the bottom of the hearth, is subjected to the action of the air-blast from the lower row of tuyeres,whereby any impurities which may have been carried down with the metal are removed therefrom.

The metal produced from iron ores by my improved process is a compound of iron possessing the'malleability and other qualities of steel to a greater or less degree, according to the quality of the ore from which it is produced, and it can be employed for many of the uses for which steel is employed, Without any reheating, excepting that which may be necessary to give it the desired form. The cost of thelabor, apparatus,and fuelwhich arerequired for the production of a metal of the samecharacter by the ordinary methods now employed after the iron leaves the blast-furnace is saved by my improved process,and.the metal is produced directly from the ore at much less expense.

I am aware that liquid hydrocarbon has been injected into the lowest part of a converter; but in this case there can be no pure-air blast below the level at which the combined air and gas blast is employed, as in my process. Hy-

drogen gas or hydrocarbon gas hasbeen injected into a separate oscillating reducer; but in this case no combined air and gas blast at a higher level and a pure-air blast at a lower level occurs, as is the casein my improved process. I do not wish, therefore, to lay claim to any such processes; but

I claim as my invention 1. The process, substantially as described, of smelting ores and producing refined metal by injecting an air-blast and gas-blast on the same level and a simple air-blast at a level below that of the combined air and gas blast, for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with a blastfnrnace, A, and the chimney B of an ordinary furnace, U, of a gas-blower, D, having its gas-inlet connected with the chimney B, and having its discharge-pipe connected with tuyeres leading into the hearth of the blast-furnace, and an airblower, K, having its discharge-pipecounected with suitable air-tuyeres, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with a blast-furnace, A, and the chimneyB of an ordinary furnace, O, of a gas-blower, D, air-blower K, and air and gas tuyeres h i a 0, arranged in two rows or tiers, one above the other, the gastuyeres 0 in the lower tier being provided with slides 11, whereby the flow of gas to these tuyeres can be regulated, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with a blast-furnace, of air and gas tuyeres h t" -n 0, the gas-tuyeres 0 being provided with slides 19, whereby the flow of gas to these tuyeres can be regulated, substantially as set forth.

T. G. HALL.

Witnesses:

JNo. J. BONNER, CHAS. J. Bucnnnrr. 

